What causes aortic regurgitation?
Aortic regurgitation usually happens because the cusps were deformed before you were born or they became that way because of disease or accident. Another cause of aortic regurgitation is the aortic ring, the place the cusps are attached to, has gotten wider. This usually happens because you get older or have a disease or accident. Following is a list of some causes of AR. Ask your caregiver if you want more information about any of these causes: • Rheumatic (rew-MAH-tik) fever. • Infective (in-FEK-tiv) endocarditis (end-o-kar-DI-tis). • Heart valve problems at birth. The aortic valve may have one or two cusps instead of three. • The cusps may be deformed. • Problems in the aorta that force blood backwards into the left ventricle. • Deterioration (breaking down) of the valve with age. • Injury to the heart, from an accident or a heart attack. • Past use of certain diet drugs. • Other diseases.
